“The economic situation is a more important subject than the veil,” says Zahra who, like many Iranian women, is mainly concerned about inflation, a year after the start of the vast protest movement that shook Iran.
Interviewed on a street in Tehran, the 41-year-old housewife admits that it is difficult to make ends meet while prices have increased by almost 50% over the past year, much more than salaries.
“Life is hard for people and it becomes more complicated every day,” also testifies Raha, a 34-year-old accountant who does not wish to give her last name.
In such a context, she hopes that the government will “focus on improving the economic situation” rather than on the wearing of the veil which “is a secondary subject and a personal question”.
The debate on the obligation of the hijab returned in force after the shock caused by the death, on September 16, 2022, of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old young woman arrested for non-compliance with the strict dress code of the Islamic Republic.
This death triggered one of the strongest protest movements since the start of the Islamic Republic in 1979, resulting in the deaths of several hundred people and the arrest of thousands of others.
Faced with the disobedience of many women who no longer wear the veil in public, the authorities have announced a strengthening of controls and sanctions, which is provided for in a new law currently under discussion in Parliament.
“This bill pleases some, but not the general population,” says Fatemeh, a 43-year-old housewife, interviewed by AFP.
The authorities “should take care of economic problems. Then they can look at social issues,” says Raha. “If the economy improves, people will be more inclined to respect the laws of the country,” she believes.
Likewise, Zahra says she has “no problem wearing the hijab”. “But I would be happier if the living conditions were better,” she confides.
At the start of the year, Iranian President Ebrahim Raïssi stated that his priority was “improving the livelihoods of the population” and “controlling inflation”, which stood at 46.7 % at the end of August.
The conservative president had placed the responsibility for part of the economic problems on the “enemy” who “is trying to impose despair on the people”. He thus targeted the West, especially the United States, which has imposed severe economic sanctions on Iran since 2018.
A year later, gloom persists in the Grand Bazaar, the immense commercial heart of Tehran frequented by all social classes even if the wealthiest prefer the “malls” of the chic neighborhoods in the north of the city.
In the maze of bazaar aisles, activity remains bustling and the stalls are overflowing with colorful products, but the merchants look grim.
“The bazaar is crowded, but a lot of people come to have fun or simply ask for the latest prices,” says Mehdi, a trader.
“The situation is worse than a year ago, and it will get even worse,” adds Mohsen, who sells men’s clothing. “People’s priority is to pay for their accommodation, then their food.”
Another shopkeeper, Mohammad, 41, notes that buyers are increasingly favoring products “made in Iran” while imported products are rarer because of sanctions, and more expensive due to the 66% drop in price. rial, the national currency, in one year.
“Today, most of the items available, such as pots and cutlery, are made in Iran,” says this crockery seller.
09/12/2023 05:13:10 – Tehran (AFP) – ©2023 AFP